Sealing Sleeve

ABSTRACT

A sealing sleeve comprising a front portion and rear portion constituting an open pocket configured to receive an object is disclosed. The sealing sleeve comprises a slip being arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sealing sleeve for receiving andhereby sealing and protecting objects such as cards.

BACKGROUND

Prior art sealing sleeves are typically configured to receive a cardthat is intended to be sealed and hereby protected against wear andmoisture. A prior art sealing sleeve typically comprises a body portionhaving a front portion and a rear portion attached thereto. The bodyportion is shaped to form a pocket provided with an opening. The sealingsleeve comprises a slip provided with adhesive provided at the portionof the slip that faces against the rear portion of the body portion whenthe sealing sleeve is closed.

The use of prior art sealing sleeves is associated to severaldisadvantages. Stacking of prior art sealing sleeves will introduce arisk for sealing sleeves to slide away from the stack (because the upperlayers of the stack will not extend parallel to horizontal). Moreover,the adhesive makes it difficult to open the sealing sleeve after havingclosed it. Furthermore, the adhesive will leave sticking areas on therear portion of the body portion so that the rear portion will stick toobjects to which the card is brought into contact with.

Thus, there is a need for a sealing sleeve which reduces or eveneliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention can be achieved by a sealing sleeveas defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in thedependent subclaims, explained in the following description andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The sealing sleeve according to the invention is a sealing sleevecomprising:

-   a front portion and rear portion constituting an open pocket    configured to receive an object;-   a slip arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the    inside of the pocket.

Hereby, it is possible to provide a sealing sleeve that has a uniformthickness. Accordingly, stacking of the sealing sleeves will not beassociated to a risk of experiencing that the upper layers of the stacknot extending parallel to horizontal. Moreover, the sealing sleeve canbe provided without any adhesive. Hereby, it is possible to provide asealing sleeve that is more cost efficient and user-friendly than theprior art sealing sleeves.

The invention makes it possible to provide a sealing sleeve that fitstightly around any card including a standard size 63×88 mm cards.

In one embodiment, the width of the slip is 58 mm.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip is 86 mm.

In one embodiment, the width of the front portion is 64 mm.

In one embodiment, the width of the rear portion is 64 mm

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion is 89 mm.

In one embodiment, the length of the rear portion is 89 mm.

In one embodiment, the front portion and rear portion are equally sizedand constitute an open pocket configured to receive an object.

In one embodiment, the front portion and the rear portion arerectangular.

In one embodiment, the front portion and the rear portion are square.

In one embodiment, both the front portion and the rear portion areformed as a trapezium having one vertical line of reflectional symmetry.

The slip is arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into theinside of the pocket without using adhesive.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is provided with a slip extendingin extension of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is provided with a slip extendingin extension of the rear portion.

The sealing sleeve comprises a slip arranged and configured to belockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion isselected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slipand the rear portion above 0.2.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion isselected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slipand the rear portion above 0.4.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion isselected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slipand the rear portion above 0.6.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion isselected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slipand the rear portion above 0.8.

Hereby, it is possible to prevent that the slip is unintendedly removedfrom the pocket.

In one embodiment, the slip comprises a folding structure enabling theslip to be folded (180 degrees) relative to the front portion. Hereby,it is possible to lockingly insert the slip into the inside of thepocket.

In one embodiment, the slip has a uniform thickness along its entirelength.

Hereby, it is possible to ensure that the sealing sleeve has a uniformthickness.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pocket.

Hereby, it is possible to folding structure in an easy manner.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is providedat the outside surface of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is providedat the inside surface of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a permanent creaseallowing the slip to rotate with respect to the crease.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease is made by a process, in whichthe front portion is folded.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is providedat the outside surface of the rear portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is providedat the inside surface of the rear portion.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease is made by a process, in whichthe rear portion is folded.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a welding structure.

In one embodiment, the width of the slip is smaller than the width ofthe pocket. Hereby, insertion of the slip into the pocket is eased.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip is slightly smaller than thelength of the pocket. This may be beneficial when the slip is insertedinto the pocket.

It may be an advantage that the proximal portion of the slip comprisesan arced portion. An arced portion makes it possible to insert the slipinto the pocket without creasing the slip.

In one embodiment, the arced portion has a J-shaped structure, whereinthe proximal portion of the slip has a widening geometry towards thebody portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the pocket is larger than the width ofthe pocket.

In one embodiment, at least the front portion is made in a transparentmaterial.

In one embodiment, the entire sealing sleeve is made in a transparentmaterial.

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion basically correspondsto the length of the slip.

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion is slightly largerthan the length of the slip.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 55% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 60% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 65% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 70% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 75% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 80% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 85% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 90% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 95% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 97% or more ofthe length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightlyaround standard size 63×88 mm card.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightlyaround standard size paper used in the United States and Canada.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightlyaround standard size paper that is 8½ inches wide and 11 inches long.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightlyaround standard size paper that is 8½ inches wide, but it is 14 incheslong.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightlyaround standard size paper that is 210 millimetres wide and 297millimetres long.

It may be an advantage that the slip is basically as long as the pocket.Hereby, the slip can fold into the pocket thereby sealing the card orpaper inside and protecting it from all four sides, as opposed to thethree-side protection of a prior art card sleeve.

The kit according to the invention comprises a sealing sleeve accordingto the invention and an additional sleeve.

In one embodiment, the slip comprises a permeant crease made by a moldtool. By providing a permeant crease, it is possible to making sure thatthe slip folds at the right place, and providing a reliable seal whenthe slip has been folded down into pocket of the sealing sleeve. Thisconstruction makes it virtually impossible to push the card or paper outof the sealing sleeve unintentionally.

In a preferred embodiment, the slip is almost as long as the entiresealing sleeve. Hereby, it is possible to provide a sealing sleeve thathas a uniform thickness. This is of great importance when the sealingsleeve (e.g. with cards inside) are stacked.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is made in cast polypropylene.

It may be an advantage that the front portion and slip of the sealingsleeve is made in clear (transparent) cast polypropylene.

In one embodiment, the rear portion of the sealing sleeve is made a dark(e.g. black tinted) cast polypropylene.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 20-200 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 30-100 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 40-80 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 40 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 50 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portionand the slip is 60 micrometer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given byway of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of thepresent invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A shows a card being inserted into a sealing sleeve according tothe disclosure;

FIG. 1B shows the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 1A in a configuration, inwhich a slip of the sealing sleeve is being inserted into a pocket ofthe sealing sleeve;

FIG. 1C shows the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 1B in a configuration, inwhich the slip has been fully inserted into a pocket of the sealingsleeve;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a sealing sleeve according to oneembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealingsleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealingsleeve according to another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealingsleeve according to a further embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4A shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a firstembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4B shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4C shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a thirdembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4D shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a fourthembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic, perspective view of a prior art sealingsleeve;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a stack of cards each being insertedinto a prior art sealing sleeve;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to the oneembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective rear view of a sealing sleeve according toanother embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective front view of a sealing sleeve shown in FIG.8;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealing sleeve according toone embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve shown in FIG.10 in a configuration, in which a card has been inserted into thesealing sleeve; and

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve shown in FIG.11 being inserted into an additional sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustratingpreferred embodiments of the disclosure, a sealing sleeve 2 of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to thedisclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a front portion and a rearportion 14 constituting a body portion 4. A slip 8 extends in extensionof the rear portion. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a pocket 6configured to receive a card 10. In FIG. 1A it can be seen that a card10 is being inserted into the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2.

It can be seen that the width W_(pocket) of the pocket 6 is slightlylarger than the width W_(card) of the card 10. Likewise, the lengthL_(pocket) of the pocket 6 is slightly larger than the length L_(card)of the card 10. Accordingly, the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2 isconfigured to receive the card 10.

FIG. 1B illustrates the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 1A in aconfiguration, in which a slip 8 of the sealing sleeve 2 is beinginserted into a pocket of the sealing sleeve 2. The slip 8 has a widthW_(slip) that is smaller than the width W_(pocket) of the pocket.

FIG. 1C shows the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 1B in a configuration,in which the slip has been fully inserted into a pocket of the sealingsleeve 2. The slip has been locking received by the pocket of thesealing sleeve 2. Accordingly, the card 10 is protected from all sides.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a sealing sleeve 2 according toone embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a bodyportion 4 comprising a front portion and a rear portion and a pocketprovided with an opening. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a slip 8extending in extension of the front portion 12. The slip 8 is rotatablyattached to the front portion 12 of the body portion 4 in a foldingstructure 24. Hereby, the slip 8 is arranged and configured to belockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket of the sealing sleeve2. The folding structure 24 extends parallel to the lateral axis Xextending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of asealing sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure. It can beseen that a folding structure 24 formed as a groove extendsperpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket. Hereby, the slip8 is rotatably attached to the rear portion 14 in the folding structure24 in such a manner that the slip 8 can be lockingly inserted into theinside of the pocket of the sealing sleeve (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of asealing sleeve according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Thefolding structure 24′ formed as a groove extending perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis Y of the pocket. Wherein the groove 24 is provided inthe outside portion of the sealing sleeve in FIG. 3A, the groove 24′ isprovided in the inside portion of the sealing sleeve in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of asealing sleeve according to a further embodiment of the disclosure. Thefolding structure 25 formed as a permanent crease extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket. The permanentcrease 25 may be made by using any suitable mechanical tools adapted tobend the slip 8 relative to the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease 25 is made by a welding process.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to afirst embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises abody portion 4 comprising a front portion 12 and a rear portionconstituting a pocket provided with an opening. The body portion 4 andthe slip 8 has a rectangular geometry, wherein the length is larger thanthe width.

The slip 8 extends in extension of the front portion 12 of the bodyportion 4. It can be seen that the width W_(pocket) is larger than thewidth W_(slip) of the distal portion of the slip 8. It can be seen thatthe proximal portion of the slip 8 comprises an arced portion 22. Thearced portion 22 has a J-shaped structure, wherein the proximal portionof the slip 8 has a widening geometry towards the body portion 4.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to asecond embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 basicallycorresponds to the one shown in FIG. 4A, however, the body portion 4 andthe slip 8 has a basically square geometry.

FIG. 4C illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to athird embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 basicallycorresponds to the one shown in FIG. 4A, however, the body portion 4 andthe slip 8 has a rectangular geometry, wherein the width is larger thanthe length.

FIG. 4D shows a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to a fourthembodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a bodyportion 4 comprising a front portion 12 and a rear portion constitutinga pocket provided with an opening. The body portion 4 is formed as atrapezium having one vertical line of reflectional symmetry. The sealingsleeve 2 is provided with a slip 8 extending in extension of the bodyportion.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic, perspective view of a prior art sealingsleeve 102. The sealing sleeve 102 is configured to receive a card (notshown). The sealing sleeve 102 comprises a body portion 104 having afront portion 112 and a rear portion attached thereto. The body portion104 is shaped to form a pocket provided with an opening. The sealingsleeve 102 comprises a slip 108 provided with adhesive 28. The adhesive28 is provided at the portion of the slip 108 that faces against thefront portion 112 of the body portion 104 when the sealing sleeve 102 isclosed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a stack of cards 10 each beinginserted into a prior art sealing sleeve 102 corresponding to the oneshown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that the adhesive 28 provided at thedistal portion of the slip 108 has a thickness. Accordingly, the heightD₂ of the left side of the stack of cards 102 is larger than the heightD₁ of the right side of the stack.

Thus, the prior art sealing sleeve 102 is associated to severaldisadvantages. Stacking of prior art sealing sleeve 102 (both when acard 102 has been inserted into the sealing sleeve 102 or not) willintroduce a risk for the sealing sleeves 102 to slide away from thestack (because the upper layers of the stack will not extend parallel tohorizontal). Moreover, the adhesive 28 makes it difficult to open thesealing sleeve 102. Furthermore, the adhesive 28 will leave adhesive onthe front portion of the body portion 104 so that the front portion willstick to objects to which the card 102 is in contact with.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to oneembodiment of the disclosure.

The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4 comprising a frontportion 12 and a rear portion constituting a pocket provided with anopening. The front portion 12 and the rear portion are joint in a jointportion 18 at the bottom and by joint portions 16, 20 at the sides ofthe front portion 12 and the rear portion. The sealing sleeve 2comprises a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12 of thebody portion 4. The slip 8 is movably attached to the front portion 12of the body portion 4. A folding structure 24 constitution an axis ofrotation of the slip 8. The folding structure 24 is provided to allowthe slip 8 to be rotated with respect to the is movably attached to thefront portion 12 of the body portion 4. Hereby, the slip 8 can belockingly inserted into the pocket (as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C).

Both the body portion 4 and the slip 8 has a rectangular geometry,wherein the length is larger than the width. It can be seen that thewidth W_(pocket) is larger than the width W_(slip) of the distal portionof the slip 8. Furthermore, it can be seen that the proximal portion ofthe slip 8 comprises an arced portion 22. The arced portion 22 has aJ-shaped structure, wherein the proximal portion of the slip 8 has awidening geometry towards the body portion 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective rear view of a sealing sleeve 2according to another embodiment of the disclosure and FIG. 9 illustratesa perspective front view of the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 8. Thesealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4. The body portion 4comprises a front portion 12 and a rear portion 14. The sealing sleeve 2comprises a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12.

A first and second side portion 26 extending between the front portion12 and the rear portion 14. The side portions 26, the front portion 12and the rear portion 14 constitutes a pocket 6 having a basicallybox-shaped inner space. The pocket 6 is provided with an openingconfigured to receive an object (e.g. one or more cards). A firstfolding structure 24 and a second folding structure 24′ extend parallelto each other. These folding structures 24, 24′ are arranged andconfigured to allow the slip 8 to be folded along each of the foldingstructures 24, 24′.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sealing sleeve 2according to one embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates across-sectional view of the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 10 in aconfiguration, in which a card 10 has been inserted into the sealingsleeve 2. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealingsleeve shown in FIG. 11 being inserted into an additional sleeve 30.

The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a front portion 12, a rear portion 14 anda slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12. The sealingsleeve 2 comprises a pocket 6.

The slip 8 is arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into theinside of the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2. This can be done sincethe slip 8 is rotatably attached to a rotational structure formed as afolding structure 24. The folding structure 24 may be a structure asexplained with reference to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B or FIG. 3C.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 isselected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip8 and the rear portion 14 above a predefined level. Accordingly, it ispossible to prevent that the slip 8 is unintendedly removed from thepocket 6.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 andthe rear portion 14 is above 0.2.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 andthe rear portion 14 is above 0.4.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 andthe rear portion 14 is above 0.6.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 andthe rear portion 14 is above 0.8.

The length L₂ of the rear portion 14 almost corresponds to the length L₁of the slip 8. However, in practice the length L₂ of the rear portion 14is slightly larger than the length L₁ of the slip 8.

In one embodiment, the length L₁ of the slip 8 corresponds to 85% of thelength L₂ of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁ of the slip 8 corresponds to 90% of thelength L₂ of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁ of the slip 8 corresponds to 95% of thelength L₂ of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁ of the slip 8 corresponds to 97% of thelength L₂ of the rear portion 14.

In FIG. 11, the card 10 has been inserted into the sealing sleeve 2 andan additional sleeve 30 is arranged next to the sealing sleeve 2.Accordingly, the sealing sleeve 2 can be inserted into the additionalsleeve 30 in order to seal the open end of the sealing sleeve 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates a kit 32 comprising the additional sleeve 30 and thesealing sleeve 2. The sealing sleeve 2 has been fully inserted into theadditional sleeve 30. Accordingly, the additional sleeve 30 seals theopen end of the sealing sleeve 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   2 Sealing sleeve-   4 Body portion-   6 Pocket-   8 Slip-   10 Object (e.g. card)-   12 Front portion-   14 Rear portion-   16 Joint portion-   18 Joint portion-   20 Joint portion-   22 Arced portion-   24, 24′ Folding structure-   25 Folding structure-   26 Side portion-   28 Adhesive-   30 Additional sleeve-   32 Kit-   102 Sealing sleeve (prior art)-   104 Body portion (prior art)-   108 Slip (prior art)-   112 Front portion (prior art)-   X Longitudinal axis-   Y Lateral axis-   L_(card) Length-   L_(pocket) Length-   W_(card) Width-   W_(pocket) Width-   W_(slip) Width-   D₁, D₂ Height

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealing sleeve comprising: a front portion andrear portion constituting an open pocket configured to receive anobject; a slip arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into theinside of the pocket.
 2. A sealing sleeve according to claim 1, whereinthe slip comprises a folding structure enabling the slip to be folded(180 degrees) relative to the front portion.
 3. A sealing sleeveaccording to claim 1, wherein the slip has a uniform thickness along itsentire length.
 4. A sealing sleeve according to claim 2, wherein thefolding structure comprises a groove extending perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the pocket.
 5. A sealing sleeve according to claim1, wherein the folding structure comprises a permanent crease allowingthe slip to rotate with respect to the crease.
 6. A sealing sleeveaccording to claim 1, wherein the width of the slip is smaller than thewidth of the pocket.
 7. A sealing sleeve according to claim 1, whereinthe length of the slip is slightly smaller than the length of thepocket.
 8. A sealing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the proximalportion of the slip comprises an arced portion.
 9. A sealing sleeveaccording to claim 1, wherein the length of the pocket is larger thanthe width of the pocket.
 10. A sealing sleeve according to claim 1,wherein at least the front portion is made in a transparent material.11. A sealing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the length of thefront portion basically corresponds to the length of the slip.
 12. Asealing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is shaped andconfigured to fit tightly around standard size 63×88 mm card.
 13. A kitcomprising a sealing sleeve according to claim 1 and an additionalsleeve.